Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission Mount Spokane State Park Comprehensive Trail Plan Originally adopted September 2009 Revised November 2014 Table of Contents INTRODUCTION AND BACKGROUND ................................................................................... 3 PLAN PURPOSE AND SCOPE .................................................................................................... 4 PLAN ORGANIZATION ............................................................................................................... 5 ROLE OF TRAILS IN MOUNT SPOKANE STATE PARK ....................................................... 5 Purpose of Park Trails ................................................................................................................. 5 Shared-Use Trails........................................................................................................................ 6 GENERAL PARK TRAIL POLICIES ....................................................................................... 9 SUMMER TRAIL USE MANAGEMENT .................................................................................. 14 General Policy Direction........................................................................................................... 14 Trail Improvement and Maintenance Projects .......................................................................... 15 New Trail Development ............................................................................................................ 21 User Information/Education...................................................................................................... 24 WINTER TRAIL USE MANAGEMENT .................................................................................... 26 General Policy Direction........................................................................................................... 26 Trail Improvement and Maintenance Projects .......................................................................... 29 New Trail Development ............................................................................................................ 29 User Information/Education...................................................................................................... 31 Attachment A: Washington State Parks & Recreation Commission Trail Goals and Policies ...... 0 Section I: Nonmotorized Trail Goals and Policies ..................................................................... 1 Section II: Nonmotorized Water Trail Goals and Policies ......................................................... 4 Section III: Winter Nonmotorized Trail Goals and Policies ....................................................... 7 Section IV: Winter Motorized Trail Goals and Policies ........................................................... 10 2 This trail plan proposes trail uses and trail management based on sharing the trail resources in Mount Spokane State Park (the park). Consistent with the Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission Trail Goals and Policies (Attachment A), it favors non-motorized, low-impact activities over motorized, high-impact activities. It seeks to expand trail opportunities for mountain biking, snowshoeing and Nordic skiing, and to prevent interference between these activities and other activities in the park. It seeks to separate user groups where conflict is most frequent and where separation is the best option available to minimize such conflicts. It emphasizes involving volunteers and organized user groups wherever possible in both planning and implementation, in order to foster ownership and personal responsibility. It also favors light-handed management as a means of minimizing the need for much more expensive law enforcement. INTRODUCTION AND BACKGROUND The first formal trail plan for Mount Spokane State Park was approved by the State Parks and Recreation Commission (Commission) in August 1978. In November 1998, as part of the Classification and Management Planning (CAMP) Project, staff initiated a public planning process to develop a long-term plan for the park. Parks staff conducted a series of public workshops designed to engage park users and other stakeholders in identifying important park issues, exploring alternative land classification and management approaches to address these issues, and developing final recommendations for presentation to the Commission. During this process, staff worked closely with the Mount Spokane State Park Advisory Committee (MSSPAC). The MSSPAC consisted of park stakeholders appointed by the Director to represent various recreational user groups and both environmental preservation and wider community interests in park planning. On October 29, 1999, the State Parks and Recreation Commission adopted land classifications for Mount Spokane State Park. Throughout the planning process, public concerns consistently centered on managing the park’s trail system. During both the summer and winter seasons, trail-related activities are the dominant forms of recreation in the park. In addition to over 21 miles of single-track trails, there are about 38 miles of primitive roadways, 31 miles of groomed Nordic ski trails, and approximately 16 miles of groomed snowmobile trails in the park. Public participants and park staff identified several trail-related issues including: · Natural and cultural resource impacts caused by trails in poor condition · Safety of trail users · Providing for a variety of recreational trail opportunities and experiences · Trail use conflicts · Adequacy of visitor information/user education · Trails crossing onto private lands · Trail maintenance needs · New trail development · Appropriate/effective volunteer participation Because these issues are complex and in large part interrelated, staff determined that in addition to 3 land classification and general management planning for the park, a more intensive and comprehensive trails planning effort was necessary. An Interim Trail Plan was developed and approved in July 2000, and the MSSPAC began work on the Comprehensive Trail Plan in 2004. The Comprehensive Trail Plan was completed in 2009, and was integrated into the park’s Master Facilities Plan, which was approved in 2010. At the Commission meeting where the Master Facilities Plan was approved, members of the mountain bike community gave public testimony that the Comprehensive Trail Planning process did not include adequate input from mountain bikers, and therefore mountain biking issues were not properly addressed in the plan. So work began on this revision to the Comprehensive Trail Plan, with the goal of improving opportunities for mountain biking in the park, while reducing user conflict issues. The process for developing this revision included: · Gathering a team of mountain bikers and other trail users to consider how best to improve mountain biking in the park · Conducting an online survey of trail users to determine what kinds of mountain bike opportunities were most desired, and to learn the level and seriousness of trail conflict issues · Seeking public comment on a 20-year mountain biking trail proposal developed by the local mountain biking community, Evergreen East · Several MSSPAC meetings, leading to a recommendation from the advisory committee to the Washington State Parks Director (Director) · Developing a staff recommendation for consideration by the Director Since the MSSPAC was formed to provide recommendations to the Director on the planning efforts at Mount Spokane State Park, and since this Comprehensive Trail Plan revision concludes the park’s major planning efforts, the MSSPAC recommendations on this plan concluded their work. At the June 27, 2013 State Parks and Recreation Commission meeting in Spokane, the MSSPAC was recognized for their 18 years of service to the park. Their efforts are not complete, however, since many of the advisory committee members are on the board of the Friends of Mount Spokane State Park. PLAN PURPOSE AND SCOPE This plan provides guidance for managers in the development and use of Mount Spokane State Park trails. It makes use of prior research and input from the CAMP project and the Interim Trail Plan, as well as the Park Commission’s Trail Goals and Policies document adopted in 2004. Its scope encompasses: · protecting natural and cultural resources · monitoring trail use and resource impacts · ensuring visitor safety · preventing and resolving trail user conflicts · developing major and minor trail renovations · constructing new trails · installing trail signs 4 · maintaining existing park trails · closing unsuitable trails · enhancing the recreational experience for both winter and summer trail users · fostering volunteer participation · addressing trails that cross onto private land · maintaining good relationships between State Parks, the concessionaire and adjacent landowners · developing visitor information/education relative to trail use Projects will be prioritized according to available resources and the needs dictated by resource protection, visitor safety, user conflict, and developing a quality trail experience. It should be recognized that unforeseen circumstances or changes in priorities might affect implementation. In this event, staff will seek stakeholder participation to determine necessary revisions. PLAN ORGANIZATION This plan starts with general park trail policies and then is separated into two main sections: Summer Trail Use Management and Winter Trail Use Management.